Folding table



Patented Oct. 14,1930

UNITED SATAVITES PATENT OFFICE JosErH SAER, OF HOLLIS, NEW YORK roLnING TABLE Application filed September 8, 1928, Serial No. 304327.

` The invention relates'to folding tables and has for 'its objectto provide atable of the type indicated, with a novel, and simple lockclaims. i

table equipped with the improved arrange- Reference is to be had to the 'accom'panying drawing, which illustrates an example of the invention without defining'its limits, and in which Fig. l is a fragmentary section of a ment; Fig. 2 is an end view thereoflFig. 3

` is a detail elevation partly in section of the novel locking means, and Fig 4 is an inverted plan view thereof;

As shown in the drawings, the table com- 'prises 'the 'customary top 10,' which maybe i of'any conventionaltype, andsupportng 'meansfoldably connected with said top and adapted to be adjusted to operativesupporting positions, and to folded inoperativeposi tions, as will appear more fully herenafter.

(In the illustrated example, thersupporting means comprises legs ll connected together in pairs in' any suitable manner, as, forinstance, by means of transverse members 12, as illustrated in Figs. l and2; each' pair *of legs ll is pivotally connected with'the top 10, for instance, by being hinged thereto at 12, the arrangement being such that in their 'operative supporting positions each pair of legs-ll extends in vertical directions beneath the top lO and in perpendicular relation thereto, the upper en'ds of the legs 11 and -the upper` eclges 'of the transverse members 12 forming shoulders which engage the lower surface ofthetop to firmly support the same. r v The novel looking means whereby the legs ;11- or their equvalentare-,firmly lockedin their operative supporting positions, and also 'fixed in their folded positions, is, duplicated with respect to eachpair, of legs, and n each instance consists of members 13 located in spaced parallel relation to each other upon the bottom surface of the top 10 and providedwith complemen-tal guide Slots 14:, extending lengthwse of themembers 13 and terminatin'g at their opposite ends in, closed transverse extensions which constituteseats '15 andl respectively, the purpose of which will appear more fully hereinafter. The members 13 may compriseseparate elements independently Secured to the table top 10 gin proper'relation to eachother, or, as pre'- 'ferred, said members 13 may form part of a unit 'and comprise integral parts of a plate 16 fromwhich' said members 13 depend, as shown in the drawngs. In such case, the

plate 16 is secured -to the top 10' by suitable fastening devices, such as screwsl'l', and constitutes the medium whereby said members '13 are fastened'in place. Each locki'ng'm'eans further includes a slidable devic'e which,in the illustrated example, is shown in the form of a pin lSextending through the slots 14, so as to be slidable lengthwise there'of and bridging the spaces between the members 13,

as shown in Fig. 2. The pin 18 or its equivalent is connected with the legs 11 of a given pair or their equivalent, 'for instance, by

means of braces 19 which at one end are pivoted at 20 to each of the legs 11, and at the i other end are pivotally connected with the pin 18 so as tobe capable of pivotalmovement relatively thereto; `for the purpose of ;increasing the rigidity of thejstructure, the

braces l9' are preferably in slidable surface engagement' with the exterior faces of the members 13.

In the preferred arrangement, means is provided whereby the pin 18 or its equivalent is removably maintained in at least the seat 15, which receives said pin when the legs 11 or their equivalent are in their unfolded! supporting positions. ``In the illustrated" example the means in question consists of a leai spring 21, adapted to exe'rt an upward pressure on the pin 18, and preferably having its free end projected downwardly, 'as

indicated at 22; the spring 21 may be Secured in place upon the bottom surface of the top 10 in any convenient manner, for instance, by being riveted to an extension 16 of the plate 16. In addition to the parts so far described, the improved arrangement includesmeansfor facilitating the withdrawal of the sli'dable' devioe or 'specifioally the pin 18 from the seats 15 and 15 when it is desired to adjust the legs 11 to andfrom their several positions;-in the illustrated exam ple, the means referredto comprises a handle 23 Suspended from and connected" with" the pin 18 andoooupying. a readily accessible position, as shown in' Fig's; 1, 2 and 3.

In the. drawings, the table is shown in its unfolded condition, that` is, set up for use,

pins 18 inco-operation with the seats 15,

as willbeobvious. The springs 21 or' their equivalent serve to yieldingly maintain the pins 18 in the seats 15 against anyounintentional displac'ement. When'it-is desi'red to knock down the table." the'pins 18 or their equivalent are withdrawn from the seats 15 against'the tension of the springs 21, which may-be readily aocomplished for instance by exerting "pressure in the proper direction upon the braoes 19; preferably, however, a downward pull is exerted upon' the handles 23 to overcome the tension of the springs 21 and' `to thereby effect the removal of the pins 18 from theaforesaid -seats' In any case, as soon. as the pins 18 are out of the seats 15, they are in position to travel lengthwise, of the slots 14 to thereby permit the legs 11 to pivotally Swing upon the hinges -12 into folded-positions beneath the table top 10,;` in the completelyfolded position of the legs ll, the pins 18 will enter the -seats 15 ,and thus will automatically' maintain saidjle'gs in their inoperative'folded positions ,until it is againdesred to setup the i table ;for-use' If desired, the springs. 21

may be duplicated* at the opposite ends' of the members 13 in .positions to yieldingly maintain the pins 18 in the seats' l in the same wayas said pins' are maintained" in i the seatsl. When use ofthe. table is de 'sired, the. eins 18 are simply withdrawn from the seats l or instanoe, by means 'of the handles23and moved lengthwiseof the slots 14. i1` theopposite' direction, until they finally come 'into engagement with the ends` %of 'thesprings 21:;- a oontinued: movement of said pin '18in: the" slots; will` cause: the -springs 2:1 tube'depresseeb until the pine come into registry with the seats 15, whereupon ten# sion of the springs 21 will automatically snap the pins into said seats 15 and yieldingly maintain them there in until the table is again to be knockeddown and folded up. With the arrangement set forth, the looking means is of very simple Construction, and when made in the form of a unit as in the illustrated example, is easily and quickly at tached at the proper points to the table top 10. The lock-ing means serves to firmly fix the legs11 or their equivalent in their unfolde'd' operative positions, so that the table is, supported thereon owith a maximum of rigidity and without any appreciable vibra-` tion or swaying; 'By providing' the spaced members 13 and the'slots 14 ,the`rein", and by having the pins 18 or` their equivalent bridge the spaoesbetween said members 13,

said pins are in engagement only With the 3;

edges of the slotsll, which as shown, may be of minimum width, as a result of this, the

points at whiohfriction between'the pins andthe members 13 is developed, are' representedjby thepoints of engagement betweenf the pins 18 and the aforesaid edges of said .slots 14:, said friotion being accordingly maintained' at the lowest possible point. Re-

r sistanoe'to the operation of the looking means and wear upon' the pins 'l8 is thus 'reduced`= to a minimum, andthe looking means does 'not easily loosen up and: become inefiicient.

The natureoand Construction of the novel mechansm illustrated and' described heroin,

is' such ,that it may readily be incorporated in existing types of 'folding table, or sub'- stituted for other less ,efiicient means which may be presenttherein. The mechanis'm requires no; particular skill or efiort iii-its; ma-- nipulation and may anyone. i i i v Various changes in the specific form shown and described may' be made within' the scope r of the claims without departing from the r spirit of the invention: V s' I claim be easily operated by' A folding table' comprising a top,:sup

porting legs oonnectedtogether in pairs and hinged to said top, looking means for each v pair of legs Secured to said topand oonsisti mg oftwo spaoed parallel members provided with guideslots extending' lengthwise there of, said slots .terminating at their 'opposite ends intransverse closed extensions'oonstitut ing seats, apin exten'ding` through said slots and bridging the space between said, members', b'races extendingi between said, pin and ea chone of' the legs of a given pair and connected therewith, said pin being slidable lengthwise of said slotsand, into said' seats 'f to adjust saidpair of legs from' unfolded sup" porting to; folded non-supporting positions and vice versa and to fix them'therein a spring locatedlbetweemsaid.parallel members and. engagiig said, PII JfOD yieldingly press-- ing said pin into one of said seats to lock said pair of legs in its supporting position, and a handle pivotally connected with said pin for withdrawing the latter from said seat against the tension of said spring to permit said pair of legs to be adjusted to its folded non-supporting position.

2. A'folding table comprsing a top, supporting legs connected together in pairs and hinged to said top, looking means for each ,pair of legs Secured to said top and consistingoftwo spaced parallel members provided with guide slots extending lengthwse thereof, said slots terminating at their opposit e ends in transverse closed extensions constituting seats, a pin extending through said 'slots and bridging 'the space between said members, braces eXtending between said pin and each one of the legs of a given pair and connected therewith, said pin being slidable lengthwise of said slots and into said seats to adjustsaid pair of legs from unfolded supporting to folded non-supporting positions and Vice Versa and to fix them therein, a spring located between said arallel members adjacent to one of said seats for yieldingly 'pressing said pin into the same to lock it therein and a handle pivotally connected with said pin whereby the removal thereof from said seats is facilitated to permt said pair of legs to be pivotally adjusted relatively to said top. a

3. A folding table comprising a top, supporting means foldably connected with said I top, parallel members secured to said top and located in spaced relation to each other,

said members being provided with comple- 'mental'slots terminatingat their opposite ends in closedseats, a sldable deVice connected with said supporting means and bridging the space between said members, said slidable device being movable lengthwise of i said slots and into said seats to pivotally adjust said support-ing members relatively to said top and to lock' them in their folded and Vunfolded positions, and a handle pivotally connected with said device fonfacilitating i the withdrawal thereof from said seats.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set m hand.

y JOSEPH SAUER. 

